Hey! I’m Aaron; an American-Albanian coming to a couch near you!

Life's more fun crossing paths with people. Let's cross ours.

🇺🇸🇦🇱

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I come from a family of couchsurfers-at a very young age there were travelers living in our home from as short as a one-night stay to as long as a month. On our own travels, my parents had already developed quite a worldwide network of friends (and couches) that opened my eyes to just how precious human connection can be and how the yield of generosity is always greater than what the giver expects. Couchsurfing has been part of human culture as long as humans have been traversing the planet, and we miss out on the opportunity to be a part of something so naturally human by making hospitality a sterile, inhuman monetary transaction.

Something that's really restored my faith in humanity has been simple hospitality. Whether it's a shared meal or a few nights on a couch I always tend to say goodbye with a gratitude that extends beyond any one person offering a stranger their couch. Just trying to re-humanize the world I live in!

Interests

maps (the more obscure/old/unique the better), geography/geopolitics, writing, conversations on faith and spirituality, quality films, photojournalism, storytelling. BIG foodie.

• writing
• yoga
• running
• meditation
• reading
• piano
• hiking
• philosophy
• film
• people's stories

Music, Movies, and Books

Books:
Man’s Search for Meaning (Frankl)
Blue Like Jazz (Miller)
The Tipping Point (Gladwell)
Me Talk Pretty One Day (Sedaris)

Music:
Jose Gonzalez, Fleet Foxes, Jim Croce, anything Bossa Nova.

Movies:
Babette's Feast, The Tree of Life, The Worst Person in the World, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Arrival.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

Zip-lined off a mountain as the sun was setting on December 31st :)

Teach, Learn, Share

Albanian Culture, Cooking (or washing dishes), Music. I have a car in Tirana that I’m willing to drive if you need a ride! Can teach you how to sip a single espresso over an hour.

What I Can Share with Hosts

I like to think of myself as a pretty easy house guest! Most of my couchsurfing experience has been organized outside of the app, but I’m a well seasoned surfer who has learned to live in just about every kind of housing situation.

I’m an eager learner/listener/question-asker. I can share my knowledge on Albanian history and have a general appreciation for people that share about their passions. There’s something deeply profound about learning life’s lessons by proxy of another person’s lived experience. I hope you’ll share that with me and I can share that with you- expanding our wordview is a win-win!

I’m a big fan of co-laboring in the kitchen. Let’s cook a slow meal and listen to some music! I’ll wash up :)

Countries I’ve Visited

Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

Albania, United States